The Adult Education program at West Georgia Technical College (WGTC) celebrated its ESL and GED graduates with a commencement ceremony held Thursday, December 11, at WGTC’s Callaway Conference Center in LaGrange.

“This is a special occasion for our graduates and their loved ones,” Rebecca Wheeler, Dean of Adult Education, said. “It is a time to celebrate their hard work and dedication, and to recognize the important milestone that they have achieved.”

Dr. Cayanna Good, Deputy Commissioner for Innovation and Impact at the Technical College System of Georgia, delivered the keynote address, encouraging graduates to view their achievement as a starting point rather than a finish line.

“Earning your high school credential is more than a diploma — it’s confidence in yourself and what you can achieve when you decide to bet on yourself,” Good said. “Today is not your finish line. It is the starting point for what comes after — your more.”

During the ceremony, WGTC also recognized five graduates who earned their GED in just three days through the College’s Adult Education Accelerated Academy. The intensive program offered students free preparation classes, study materials, practice tests, and GED testing, allowing motivated learners to earn their high school equivalency in a matter of days. The Accelerated Academy graduates were Bryce George, Riley Houston, Christopher Peoples, Erika Salinas-Hernandez, and Chassity Taylor.

Since July, WGTC has proudly awarded GED credentials to 115 students, with many planning to continue into postsecondary education through diploma, technical certificate, or associate degree programs at WGTC.

For more information about the Adult Education program, including information about free classes and registration dates, visitwww.westgatech.edu/adult-education.